Turn down the volume and watch:

Snow and stuff

Cold, wet, snow. This week was no good, weather wise. Snow in late march!
Pure BS!
nay..
All-natural BS!
nay..
Organic BS!
nay still!
Free-range, organic, free trade BS!
yes.

There is so much water on the streets right now. In downtown the run-off is tainted with an-all permeating cornucopia of smells; patchouli oil, hobo stink and self-righteousness spilling from the tailpipes of the SUV drivers. Smells like Bellingham.

I am looking forward to next week and the return of my friend the sun. It will be good to return to the woods and temporarily forget about all the highways, humans and other distractions. It is nice when the only concern in my mind is hitting that next drop, sticking the rooty corner, or sweating out the long climb.

Speaking of annoying human related stuff, how about Obama and his crackpot preacher? Why didn't he dump that racist idiot a long time ago? Of course it won't matter to his supporters, they'll forget all about it after he gives his next emotionally charged speech on hope. In fact the more I watch Obama the more it becomes clear that the people who like him are the same people who love the charismatic church-type atmosphere; the people who raise their hands when they sing, the people who say they feel the spirit moving them. I thought I felt the spirit move me once but it was just a gas bubble.

I'm gonna sign off now and leave this Starbucks, the gay guy staring at me is starting to get annoying.

second thoughts

I feel as though I should apologize for that last post. It was meant as a light joke, but I realize it could be misread. Sure I don't love the symptoms of pregnancy, but I am extremely excited to be pregnant, and I know that this is not an experience everyone is fortunate enough to have. I guess it's true that you don't truly appreciate things unless you really work for them. It is incredible how your body is capable of creating and growing another life inside it. Currently our little bean is growing all of its vital organs, with the exception of the heart which should already be formed and beating at about 150 bpm. With all the complications that can and do happen during conception and pregnancy, no one should take for granted a new life.

Pregnancy sickens me!

So I decided the other day that I don't much care for pregnancy. I don't know, maybe it's the feeling of nausea all day, or perhaps the inevitable trip to the bathroom to urinate every 10 minutes. No actually, I think it's the fact that I can't ride my favorite trails, and after 10 minutes of soccer (just passing) with my husband I am worn out and ready for another nap! I know it is worth it, but I can't help wishing it only took a month, and not nine to grow a baby. I guess this is just a training to make sure you are prepped and ready for whatever difficulties life with a baby might bring. Supposedly the next trimester should be a little better, and maybe by then I will be showing a little!

Dentist

I had my last remaining wisdom tooth removed today. The bugger was fully exposed, and had been for the past 5 years, but it had a big cavity in it, and like my other molar I had removed in Hilo 4 years ago it was heading towards an inevitable infection. My dentist loaded me up on local anesthesia and after 5 minutes of pulling, digging, drilling and yanking the me and my rotted wisdom said our farewells.

I was a little apprehensive about the extraction ever since my dentist informed me I have a high than average resistance to anesthesia. Normally I would brag about something like that, but in this case its really nothing to be proud of. Essentially what it means is that instead of two shots of Novocain I need five, and instead of regaining feeling in my mouth in three hours it takes eight.

I'm playing the recovery game pretty much to a 'T' this time; no this and that while my mouth heals... everything except exercise. Supposedly I'm supposed to wait 24-48 hours before rigorous work-outs can resume, but telling me not to exercise is like telling our cat not to pee on the futon, it just ain't gonna happen. I took today off, but I gotta get my butt back to work tomorrow; the Man demands payment and I ain't got no money tree in the front of this crappy apartment so off I go selling my time.

Some things should bother us

I took a walk down to my local Haggens grocery store tonight. Haggens is essentially a Safeway type store with a slightly nicer image. You pay more for at Haggens for the presentation, a fact that intrinsically annoys me but that I stomach because the store is close to my apartment. To draw an analogy, Haggens is like the fat chick in highschool who wore tight, expensive clothes and thought she was a lot more attractive than she really was.

When I entered the store tonight I was greeted by a rather large display, clearly visible from the front doors. On the display was a number of books, all of which were of one particular bent, one worldview. The oft esteemed C.S. Lewis, the nauseating Joel Olsteen, and Francis Collins (who I reviewed a while back), and others. Why I thought, would there be such a display in a grocery store? To cool my nerves I walked to the magazine section to read the latest issue of Skeptical Inquirer, a beacon of reason I've long enjoyed and often credited Haggens for carrying. However, to my astonishment Skeptical Inquirer was nowhere to be found. Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it.

As I continued to browse, shopping through the midst of slightly overpriced goods I wondered to myself. Maybe the display of books was because of Easter. No I thought, they don't carry other books by other religious huckster's on their holy days. I've yet to see Muslim apologists, or inspirational devotions based on the Bhagavad Gita carried within Haggens' shelfs. Certainly a chain of this magnitude would not be so blatantly transparent in their actions as to show supernatural convictions on their shirt sleeves. Or would they?

Haggens often carries best selling books in their store. I've seen religious and devotional books prominently displayed on their shelves before, but never once have I seen Richard Dawkins run-away best seller "The God Delusion", or Christopher Hitchen's best seller "God is Not Great". Both these books spent numerous weeks on the top of the New York Times best selling list, yet they never graced Haggens. Why can a book of saccharine emptiness like Joel Olsteen's "Your Best Life Now" hold a front-store position yet Dawkins or Hitchens never enters the store? Who exactly is Haggens catering to? By the looks of it I would guess individuals who like their worldview unchallenged and conveniently packaged one isle from the tampons. Perhaps they are afraid of offending the sensitive types who don't like their beliefs questioned, even by the mere presence of a book. If so I would say the administration at the store is showing extreme cowardice. Since when did we start considering the narcissistic, self serving statement "I'm offended!" a valid argument? Remember, if you will, how deeply offended the Muslims were at the Danish cartoons of their beloved prophet, remember that people were murdered in the wake of that retarded alamo. Remember how the liberal and conservative media caved completely to the demands of those idiots and pulled all print off the shelves which carried the cartoons, and remember please that one of the only magazines to carry images of the beloved prophet was Skeptical Inquirer.

When we elevate certain beliefs beyond the scope of criticism and question we violate not just our right to free speech and free thought, but we metaphorically stab ourselves in the back by removing the still, small voice of dissent. If the opposition is silenced completely how can we know what we believe, and why? If we allow no challenge to the status quo then in the end there is no difference between us and the offended Muslims.

Some things should bother us.

Awareness Test

Quotes

When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.
Arthur Conan Doyle

The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.
John Howard

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.
Iris Murdoch

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.
H.G. Wells

When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day's sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay's call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else's heart.
Diane Ackerman

Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.
Jacquie Phelan

Let a man find himself, in distinction from others, on top of two wheels with a chain -- at least in a poor country like Russia -- and his vanity begins to swell out like his tires. In America it takes an automobile to produce this effect.
Leon Trotsky

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.
Ernest Hemingway

Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.
H.G. Wells

The sound of a car door opening in front of you is similar to the sound of a gun being cocked.
Amy Webster

The negative attitude of cars is expressed in their very name, *automobiles*, which exalts the vehicle at the expense of the person transported by it. They are symbols of machismo, aggressivity and empty consumption. They've been perfected over the years, but they haven't evolved. They demand to be envied, feared, and lusted after. Most car designers waste space that should be devoted to passengers. Metal competes with flesh, and an object that should be our servant becomes our master. All that distance from humanity, all that self-importance...
Phillipe Starck

I'll tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood.
Susan B. Anthony

Steal the Ride

We are finally at that point in the year where the sunlight lasts just long enough to squeeze a ride after work. So, with a partly sunny sky, and a gut full of anticipation I headed off last night after eating a couple hot dogs and drinking a pop; a good mountain biker meal if there ever was one. As I slowly climbed up the mountain I enjoyed the views and the quiet of the forest. I never quite feel as good as when I'm out in the woods, so I was having a great time. As I reached the first trail I wanted to ride I put on the leg pads, tightened down my back pack turned on my ipod, and dropped my seat way down. I was ready to do some ripping! As I made my way through the trail and came to the begining the of descent I gave the pedals a good hard push to gain some speed, only to be greeted by a SNAP and the feeling of the rear wheel locking up. Oh crap I thought, what is it? As I looked towards the back of my bike I was dismayed to see my rear derraileur wrapped akwardly around the cassette, it's hanger completely snapped in half. In lay-speak this means my bike ride had just turned into a hiking trip. At leat I was in the woods. I took my chain and relevants parts off the bike, stuffed them in my pack and started hiking back to a trail that would allow me to coast down the mountain. I met a group of Whistler guys on the hike who informed me that riding downhill with no chain is actually a great way to practice pumping your bike through the turns and terrain, so with my spirits brightened I actually had a great ride down the hill working my bike through the trail using body language.

Today I'll have to buy a new hanger.

Babies and life...

So Nate and I have taken on a new unexpected challenge in life: a baby. I am starting my seventh week pregnant, and so far other than being tired, hungry and peeing all the time, things aren't all that different. Don't worry, this is not going to be a post about pregnancy, but more about the challenge of facing the opposition of our loved ones who feel that it is not safe or responsible to live life solely as bike commuters when you have a baby. I understand that it will make life more complicated for us in the beginning, but I don't believe that our baby will be at more of a risk than those flying down the road at 65mph in vehicles. I know you have to make some changes when you have a child, but I don't think this needs to be one of them. I think this is more of a case, that people going against the norm are presumed as wrong only because they do not conform with the beliefs of the masses . I hope that in time our family members will learn to accept and preferably adopt the car-free lifestyle we have chosen for ourselves; because, as I have posted in the past, I feel it is a far better way of living.

On a lighter not I am still riding, but unfortunately the trails here are a little more technical than is recommended for pregnancy. Still, I think I might try out Kulani this weekend, and hit up ag roads, though at a slower pace than usual. I can't wait to get to Bellingham, when I will have an extensive network of cross-country trails to ride with my growing belly! I guess the DH and freeride trails will have to wait another year. Oh well. I can still film on them I think.

this is a test

simply a test

Think of the Children

Oh fundamentalists... Nothing burns my butt quite like those who would impose their morality on society. Whatever happened to the times when belief was a private thing, when the crazy things a person thought stayed within their head bouncing around their frontal lobes... Those days are gone I guess.

For the past 40 days fundamentalist protestors picketed Planned Parenthood 24 hours around the clock while they spouted off their fallacies at passerby’s and harassed nervous teenage girls who might have needed legitimate help from the experts inside. Every sperm is sacred and any free thinking individual must be annoyed beyond measure was their motto. Me thinks it is no coincidence that all 3 major religions refer to their followers as 'sheep' or some other mindless herd creature because that is exactly what you are supposed to be, a non-thinking follower of dogma and authority. Gee whiz.

I got to thinking: why don't the abortion/contraception protestors just be honest about what they really hate. Its not the abortions that bother them, millions of babies die of natural miscarriages every year and they don't bat an eye, what bothers these folks is the fact that humans are having sex, and enjoying it, and might even being doing so outside the political institution of marriage. Thats what really gets them mad.

While we're on the topic, why is it that all religions have such an obsession with the female birth canal and keeping it a one-way street? I can't think of a deity that wasn't born from a virgin, or was descended from the heavens, or emerged from it's mothers side or some other such unnatural method. It must be said; it takes the institution of religion to dirty a natural, biological act like sex, and as always, religion creates a problem where none exists by piling on moral stigmas and unnecessary double standards rather than leaving the decision up to the individual. Really, why would an arbitrary standard like marriage make one magically ready for sex? Shouldn't it be an issue of maturity instead? Clearly marriage is not the grounds of the mature seeing how 50% percent of Christian couples end up divorced. We need better standards, standards which examine the human as a complex social and biological animal not a pile of dust.

Monday rant/.

Getting Older

As I approach my mid-twenties I often find myself caught up in thoughts about the future, the past, and my changing identity therein. I think this is a unique time in a person's life; we 20-somethings are transitional creatures, no longer kids yet still standing on the precipice of tommorow and all the future represents. Questions inevtiably arrise, finding identity outside our places of birth, our schools, and upbringing. I think this is a time laden with many pretenses and expectations; some bad and some good; I believe it is our duty to engage the presuppositions surrounding this age to root out whats really important and what isn't. The search for identity shouldn't be based on societal or cultural norms; I would argue that the seed of reason, which is born into all of us, should be nourished and cultivated even above tradition.

The Greek philosopher Epicurus advocated the study of reason and philosophy so that we could reap the benefits of Ataraxia, a state of being free from worry and preoccupation. I find this to be true on a practical level, when I find myself dwelling on materialistic and superficial concerns then worry seems to find its way in. Yet, when I indulge contemplation I find that those negative effects just don't stick.

I suppose that what I'm getting at is that this is an important time in life; a time to make decisions and a time to identify value.

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits. "

The pros of aging: a realization of the importance of living.

I came to a refreshing realization this morning that I think will have a lasting impression on my mentality. As I started to think about our approaching move to Bellingham, WA, it suddenly came to me that while I have been so caught up in getting to Bellingham, I'm missing possibly my last chance to live in Hilo. And, even if I do come back, the circumstances will be different, and most importantly I will be different.
This was both an exciting and frightening thought to me. I think it is quite obvious why I might be frightened, the thought of missing out on experiences because I was so caught up in the future. But the excitement is the most important part of this whole experience. I don't like living with my current mentality; it is a stressful way of being. So the thought of adopting a new approach to life is, in a sense, a relief. I feel like I will be able to appreciate my life and the people in it a little more.
This new mentality won't just apply to long approaching events: holidays, seasons, or a move; but also to the day to day events of my life. For instance, how many times have you been on a ride when you are so caught up in being hungry, tired, or sore, that you rush to get back, and forget to enjoy your surroundings, your riding partners, or appreciate how lucky you are that you can do this activity. I will never be 25 again, and my body is going to only get older. There is nothing wrong with that, but I should take advantage of what I have now, because it will not be able to perform the same forever.
One event in my life that I wish I had applied this to, is the epic ride Joel, Nate and I did up the Resurrection trail in Alaska. We planned to stay out two nights, but on the second day, came to the realization that we hadn't brought enough food, so we headed back to the cars. That trip was one of the best in my memory, and I can't help regretting our decision to go home. I know we would not have starved on the trip, and probably wouldn't have noticed too much impairment to our performance. But I can be sure that we sacrificed a multitude of wonderful memories with that decision.
I guess the message is "Appreciate what you have, while you have it". I say it with the risk of sounding like a Halmark card, because I think it's important, and it can make the years, days, and moments in our lives seem a lot more worth living.

Get out and ride, and enjoy the experience!

Fear of Discomfort?

I was sitting in the Dentist's chair the other day, mouth ajar receiving a 5 year overdue examination when the Dentist momentarily paused and noted that my wisdom tooth had a rather large cavity in it, and that he would like to schedule a removal.  Fine I thought, its probably a good idea to remove it now before it gets infected (I've had that experience before and I'd like to avoid it again if I could).  'I could perform the extraction here, or if you'd prefer I could send you to another office to have it performed under general anesthesia.'  General anesthesia I thought, why would anyone need to be completely knocked out to have a tooth removed?  As if in anticipation of my thoughts the dentist responded, 'Some people prefer general anesthesia in order to avoid the pain of an extraction.'

This fact started a realization that I've been mulling over for a while now...  Maybe I'm off the mark with this one, but I think that we modern people are becoming increasingly weak, soft if you may, we are developing an intolerance to not just pain but simple discomfort.

Lets take America for example, our economy over the past 50 years has been changing dramatically, we've moved from a strong industrial nation to one that imports nearly everything.  I believe I've head the term 'information economy' tossed around before, an economy in which the workforce is becoming increasingly sedentary.  More and more the average worker is being stationed in front of a computer, not an assembly line and while I won't say this is necessarily a bad thing, I will say it is having an effect on our collective psyche.  As an office worker myself, I can attest to the fact that when a computer is your work tool you gradually become accustomed to low levels of stimulation and low levels of muscular activity. When you couple this with compulsive automobile use, you have a workforce and citizenry that moves less and sits more.  What are the results?  There are obvious negative effects like obesity and adult onset diabetes, but I think there is a growing psychological intolerance to discomfort. 

I don't wish to imply that we should embrace pain, I'm not.  Pain is a very useful feeling, the way our bodies tell us something is wrong, but controlled discomfort on the other hand is really no big deal, frivolous even.  I had someone tell me recently that one of the reasons they didn't like to commute by bike in Bellingham is that they hated the feeling of wet socks.  I questioned the person on this and they were dead serious.  We all know people who would rather drive half a mile to the local store to buy groceries rather than walk.  Hell, in Bellingham alone you can order your groceries, prescriptions and movies online, drive through town and never even leave your vehicle as you take care of errands.  It is a drive-through society.  

I'm worried about this; a population not equipped to deal with discomfort will never take on any goal which requires sweat of the brow, or focused determination.  Think about all the pseudo-environmentalists out there and the products marketed to them, they are all designed to cause as little discomfort as possible.  Hybrid cars, carbon credits, 'organic' pet products...  They all carry a high and mighty message, yet require no actual work on behalf of the consumer.  

What does it take to motivate people?  It is an interesting thought.

Another reason why...

Mountain Bike Action is the stupidest bike magazine available.

When their editors aren't underneath Mike Sinyard's desk busily earning their paychecks they are writing beautiful nuggets like this:

How to ride a rock garden

Just look at the model, in his matching spandex and sweet wheels. He sure rides with 'conviction' through that uber-gnarly rock garden. Go brah go!

Next week, MBA will review hollywood bike racks for the Cadilac Escilade!

Anger! Anger!

Vitriol is a dish best served hot; with the memories of your subject still searing with passion through the frontal lobes. So with all prudent candor aside, I bring you an account of the past day, or rather the past 20 odd minutes.

15 minutes ago I was whizzing through downtown Bellingham, deftly avoiding the numerous hobos and potholes in my path. I came to an intersection and pulled onto the road, and made my way to my next corner. I signaled my intention to turn and proceeded rightly, lawfully into the intersection only to be nearly smashed broadside by an SUV which sped through a stop sign into the intersection. I slammed on my brakes only narrowly avoiding the collision, but in so doing I got so close to the SUV that I could see my reflection clearly in the passenger side window. I looked goddamned pissed, and the driver, an old creaky bastard of a man looked like he just soiled himself. I let loose with a litany of curses and hand gestures as the SUV sped off. Naturally I gave chase, old bastard was headed in my intended direction anyway, so I thought why not. I caught him at the next stop sign, but once again he didn't wait around and sped into the road. Oh how I hate the morons who plug the streets in this town with their monstrous ass-haulers. What is it which humans and automobiles? I full recognize that most people are stupid even when not in a vehicle, but there is something unique about autos and their special ability to bring out the tard in those who use them. Also, ponder this: Why do we grant everyone who desires the ability to drive? I mean we give people, who we wouldn't trust to flip our goddamned Mcfatty burgers, equal privileges on the road. We gleefully allow them to pilot 5,000 explosive bombs at high speeds and then wonder in ironic stupefaction why they crash and kill themselves and others. I'm sorry to say, but intelligence and agility are not democratic values; lots of people don't have them and shouldn't be driving. Period.

Its about time I posted something relevant to the domain name of this site; the politics and religion stuff was getting a little heavy.

CRAZY BICYCLE!!!!